Bonds Irritated By Recent Allegations

THE MORNING BUZZ

June 25, 2004

Barry Bonds avoided specifics Thursday when asked about the latest doping allegations against him, instead unleashing a flurry of expletives toward sprinter Tim Montgomery. Montgomery reportedly testified to a grand jury that the man at the center of a Bay Area steroid scandal told him he supplied the San Francisco Giants' slugger with performance-enhancing drugs. "I ain't never met Tim Montgomery. I don't know Tim Montgomery. I've never seen the dude in my life," Bonds said before the Giants' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I don't even know what the guy does." According to a report Thursday in the San Francisco Chronicle, Montgomery testified last year that BALCO founder Victor Conte told him Bonds switched to an undetectable steroid in 2003 when baseball introduced its drug policy. The newspaper's report included direct quotes from Montgomery's testimony to the federal grand jury that investigated the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

USC'S WILLIAMS ENROLLED FOR SUMMER

Wide receiver Mike Williams is enrolled at Southern California for summer school, but there's no word from the NCAA on whether he will be allowed to play college football next season. Williams, who was kept out of the NFL draft by the courts, starts school next week, school spokesman Tim Tessalone said Thursday.

FULLERTON TO FACE TEXAS FOR CWS FINAL

Scott Sarver and Jason Windsor combined on an eight-hitter, and Cal State Fullerton advanced to the College World Series championship round with a 4-0 victory over South Carolina. The Titans (45-22) will face top-seeded Texas (58-13) in the best-of-three championship series beginning Saturday.

BECKHAM FAILS AGAIN, ENGLAND LOSES

David Beckham sent his shot into the crowd, and Portugal went on to beat England 6-5 in sudden-death penalty kicks following a 2-2 tie Thursday, advancing the hosts to the semifinals of the European Championship in Lisbon, Portugal. Beckham, who failed to convert a penalty kick in England's opening 2-1 loss to France, missed badly on the first penalty kick that followed 30 minutes of overtime., sending the ball well over the crossbar and into the seats. Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo stopped Darius Vassell's low shot on the seventh penalty kick, then converted the winner himself, beating England goalkeeper David James.

Portugal next plays the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Sweden and the Netherlands. In other quarterfinals, defending champion France meets Greece today and the Czech Republic faces Denmark on Sunday.

KNIGHT STAYING AT TEXAS TECH

Scratch Bob Knight's name from the list of candidates for the Ohio State coaching job. The Texas Tech coach released a statement Thursday night saying he's been told that his alma mater won't be considering him. "Last night, a friend of mine from Columbus called me to say that the athletic director had decided not to discuss the vacancy with me," Knight said. "Therefore, there was no need for me to consider it."

MINOR-LEAGUER K'S 12 STRAIGHT

Luis Ramirez set a minor-league record by striking out 12 straight batters, and didn't get a win to show for it. Ramirez, a right-hander in the Baltimore Orioles' organization, had 15 strikeouts in five innings for the Class A Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds on Wednesday night. Working on a pitch count, he was removed after the fifth inning of Aberdeen's 6-3 loss to the Jamestown Jammers. MORE BASEBALL: Five pitchers combined on the first no-hitter in Team USA history in a 9-0 victory Thursday night over Canada in Durham, N.C. Vanderbilt's Ryan Mullins had 21/3 scoreless innings, striking out one and walking two, to pick up the win for Team USA. Southern California's Ian Kennedy started and worked 22/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Also pitching were Tennessee's Luke Hochevar, North Carolina State's Joey Devine and California-Irvine's Blair Erickson.Team USA improved to 2-0 on its summer schedule.

THE LAST WORD: How long will the Magic regret not drafting Emeka Okafor?

RONALD MCDONALD GOES OLYMPIC

McDonald's will unveil a new Olympics ad campaign under its "I'm lovin' it" theme that will break worldwide this summer. The ads, via Leo Burnett Worldwide, feature Ronald McDonald participating in various Summer Olympic events such as diving, water ballet, swimming and hammer throw. McDonald's will also debut a new Olympic spot starring Venus Williams and Serena Williams, as well as a one featuring the company's Olympic champion crew, which will work in Athens this summer.

ON THIS DATE

1948 -- Joe Louis knocks out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 11th round in New York to defend his world heavyweight title. Louis announces his retirement after the fight.

1969 -- Pancho Gonzalez wins the longest match in Wimbledon history by beating Charles Pasarell in 112 games that take 5 hours, 12 minutes.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I wanted to throw the chair, the umpire, everybody. But you don't do that, you know."

-- Tennis player Goran Ivanisevic after throwing his racquet into the crowd and ripping off his shirt in celebration of his Wimbledon victory over Filippo Volandi on Thursday.